Tis the season to be jolly - if you're already doing well

Clifton resident Don Mooney is a retired labor attorney and a member of The Enquirer's Board of Contributors.

It’s the “giving season.” Time for “tidings of comfort and joy,” right? But these days a different song is playing on a distracting loop in my aging brain. It’s that old Billie Holiday song, “God Bless the Child,” made popular by Blood, Sweat and Tears back in the 1960s. If you are of a certain age, you probably remember the opening verse:

“Them that’s got shall get. Them that’s not shall lose…”

It’s that sort of holiday season – in Washington and here in Southwest Ohio.

In D.C., the Trump team, with the support of local Congressmen Chabot and Wenstrup and Senator Rob Portman, has given birth to “tax reform” legislation that amounts to a sleigh full of goodies for “them that’s (already) got.” Locally, Mayor Cranley, City Council and the Hamilton County Commission have gift-wrapped a special year-end present for some very wealthy campaign donors. Here are some of the presents all wrapped up and waiting under the tree for those already doing pretty well:

Big tax cuts for corporations already enjoying record profits.

More big tax cuts for all those “pass-through” entities, like LLCs and partnerships. Big law firm partners and real estate developers will be paying lower tax rates than their salaried secretaries or building managers. Fun fact: Both the Trumps and the Clintons get lots of “pass-through“ income, so this is a bipartisan gift to the already well off.

New deductions for folks who own private jets, or brew beer, despite all that talk about eliminating write-offs in exchange for lower tax rates.

Locally, more than $50 million in public resources has been set aside to help some of the mayor’s most generous donors buy a pro sports franchise which could be worth a whole lot more in 20 years.

Local “business leaders” put together a wish list for state funds from the Ohio General Assembly that seeks $10 million more for FC Cincinnati, but not a penny for any new buses to replace SORTA’s aging fleet.

Of course, holiday goodies for “them that’s got” have to be paid for by someone. As the song goes, “yes the strong get more, while the weak ones fade….” So here are some lumps of coal that will show up in some local stockings this holiday season:

Under the GOP tax plan, Ohioans will no longer be able to deduct their state and local tax payments on their federal tax returns. They may also lose some or all of their real estate tax deductions.

Cincinnati’s historic preservationists will mourn the loss of historic tax credits that have fueled so much redevelopment in our urban core.

Cincinnatians who rely on the bus to get to work or buy groceries are bracing for service cuts and fare increases from SORTA in the new year.

Local charities fear that tax code changes will reduce their donations, and their ability to serve the needy.

Those of us past (or approaching) 65 know that Medicare and Social Security benefits now are in the crosshairs of the GOP Congress, as it looks for ways to pay for those big tax cuts.

Teachers may no longer be able to deduct the cost of materials and supplies they provide their students.

Congress has been way too busy cutting taxes to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), putting health care for thousands of local kids at risk.

The “Dreamers” – children of immigrants brought here early in life – are facing deportation in 2018 unless Congress acts on DACA.

But there are still a few more days until Christmas. Maybe the folks in charge locally and in Washington can cut loose their inner Scrooges long enough to find just a few stocking stuffers for the folks left behind:

Could the mayor or County Commission appoint folks to the SORTA Board who actually rely on public transit to get to work?

Could Congress and the president agree on some bipartisan fixes that would stabilize health insurance premiums for those that can’t get insurance from their employers? Or to some path to citizenship for the Dreamers?

How about the local political parties diversifying the all-white male Hamilton County Board of Elections by appointing female or black board members?

And for Andy Dalton and Bengals fans, how about some offensive linemen?

Wouldn’t that bring at least a little joy to our corner of the world this Christmas season?